Week ending Saturday 28th April
Strong showing by Mullingar senior men in AAI Road Relays
In what many commentators deemed was the most competitive event for many years, Mullingar fielded a senior men’s team in the AAI Road Relays last Sunday in Raheny, Dublin. Despite their relative youth, the Mullingar team of Andy Nevin, Stephen Campbell, Padraig Moran and Michael Moran gave an excellent account and finished well up in the team placings against some really top class senior opposition. Andy Nevin ran a good opening two mile leg (10:39) and handed over to Stephen Campbell who also ran well on the tough one mile leg (5:06) to hand over to Padraig Moran for the longest leg, the three miles. Running an excellent 15:07, one of the quickest times of the day, Padraig pulled back several places, and handed over to Michael Moran for the final two mile leg, which he completed in 10:31 to bring the team home in a very creditable twelfth place. This was a very good performance by a young team and one to build on for the in future.
One week to the Hyundai “Pat Finnerty Memorial” 5k
The clock is ticking down to the Hyundai “Pat Finnerty Memorial” 5k next Wednesday evening (2nd May), which instead of a league this year is a single race on a new fast slightly downhill straight course based out of Clonkill GAA. The Pat Finnerty Memorial Perpetual Trophy will be presented to the winner of the men’s race and the winner of the women’s race. Entries are now open at www.myrunresults.com for €12 online or €15 on the night. Participants for the 5k race must be at least 16 years of age this year, but to cater for younger runners, we’ll hold shorter races for boys and girls aged 15 and younger before the main 5k race and they can enter on the night.
This is a major fundraiser for the Club, so we’re looking to everyone involved with the Club that won’t be running to get behind the event and support it by volunteering to help out on the night. We need volunteers for registration, parking, water station, stewarding/traffic control on the course, refreshments (tea/coffee, food – sandwiches, cakes, buns etc) and lots of other jobs needed for a road race. Please contact any member of the Committee or Club Official to indicate your willingness to help on the night. Thank you in anticipation.
Royal Canal Run
The Royal Canal Ultra, Marathon, Half & 10k runs took place on a flat fast 5.2km loop of the Royal Canal in Longford last Saturday in very warm conditions. Mullingar had two members in action among the 225 that completed the half marathon, Nollaig McEntegart finishing an excellent seventh place in a fine 1:29:03 and John Bannon (1:52:07) pleased with his race. We had two also in the 10k race where nearly 280 finished, among them Declan Costello (50:10) and Tommy Archbold (52:51), both glad to finish strongly despite the very warm conditions.
Leinster T&F entries
This week we’ll start distributing entry forms for the underage Leinster T&F Championships in June. There are several dates, depending on age group, but all will be held in Tullamore.
Newcomers in particular please note that the younger u/9, 10 and 11 years of age compete in pairs, so they need to think about who they would like to be partnered with; if they are unsure, please ask the coaches of these age groups for guidance. Their event is the Leinster Pairs T&F (u/9, 10 and 11) on 9th June. The Leinster u/12 and 13 T&F will be spread over three days 9th, 16th and 17th June. The older u/14 to u/19 Leinster T&F will be on 16th and 17th June.
Please keep an eye out for the forms at home and make sure to return them by the due date on the form to avoid disappointment. As always, if you don’t return an entry form, you won’t be entered.
Fundraising Table Quiz
We’re holding a fundraising table quiz in Wallace’s Pub at Dalystown on Friday 11th May at 9pm and we’re asking everyone to show their support. A table of four adults is €40, and for juniors is €20. Donation of prizes would also be greatly appreciated.
Finally, the Executive and members of the Club extend sincere sympathy to Eric O’Donnell and the O’Donnell family on the death of his father, Jim O’Donnell RIP. Eric was a member of the team that won the Club’s first National Senior cross country title in 1995 and a member of the team that finished fourth place at the European Clubs cross country in La Fleche, France in 1996.
For the latest results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures check the Club’s website www.mullingarharriers.com. You can also follow what is happening at the Club on our Facebook page.
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